PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has downplayed Selangor Umno’s decision to hand over 20 local council posts to Pakatan Harapan, saying that the party was not offended by the number of positions given.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president said he had met with the party’s 22 division chiefs in the state on Sunday (Jan 21) night to hear from them on the matter.
“The division chiefs had expressed their opinion, stating they are not offended,” he told reporters after an engagement session with Malaysian Motorcycle Association on Monday (Jan 22).
On accusations that Umno is greedy, hence not happy with the 20 positions given to the party in Selangor local councils, Ahmad Zahid explained that there are 22 division heads.
“It is better that no one gets a post rather than some get it and some not. I respect their decision. On Selangor Umno’s part, we will continue to be with the state government even though we are out of the local councils.
“We leave it to the state government under the leadership of (Mentri Besar) Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to determine how best we (Umno) can play our roles to support the state’s programmes," he added.
On Saturday, Selangor Umno chairman Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin was reported to have said the party’s state liaison committee decided to hand back the 20 local council posts to Pakatan Harapan, but denied doing so as a sign of protest.
He said the decision to return the post to Pakatan was to rebuff claims that it was “greedy” and “demanding”.
Megat Zulkarnain pointed out that 20 out of the 288 local council posts came up to only 7%.
However, he was reported to have said that Umno wants all 373 village development and security committee chairman posts.
